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In spite of Sanctum not having any attractive signs or bright lights to attract attention, looking at the interior of this place from the glass door outside would mystically draw in almost anyone, because of the comforting and friendly vibe that the set-up of this place gives out. Unlike many cafes, bars and restaurants in Intramuros where the owners have all but destroyed the natural beauty of the place, Sanctum has preserved the natural look and beauty of Manila’s walled city. It has not painted any of the parts of its walls nor has it put anything that would stay there permanently. What it has done is, it has meticulously combined modern furniture and eclectic selection of beautiful artworks with the raw beauty of the walls of Intramuros.
The ambiance of comfort that is felt so strongly in Sanctum has much to do with the way the place is set-up, like a big living room, as it is with the way the place is run. The music is not too loud nor is it too soft, they play almost anything from world music, to homegrown music like Cynthia Alexander and Kapatid, to what we can classify as new metal. There are also tons of things to do here, first of there are a lot of interesting books that can be read and discussed by a group of friends, at the same time there is a large selection of board games and puzzles and if you are feeling a little artistic there are unfinished artworks that you can dare to finish, in addition there is also a book where in you can write whatever you want be it a poem, a story or whatever that is kept in Sanctum and is there for everyone to read.
One of the highlights of going to Sanctum is the “open mic sessions” that it has every Friday. The open “mic sessions” is a time where in anybody can go up to the microphone on stage either individually or as a group and do anything they want. People can either say poetry, perform a song, play an instrument, tell a story, or perhaps a joke, or just plainly vent out. Remarkably, a lot of people go on stage and perform and being a part of this whether you go on stage and perform or just listen is a very interesting experience, in fact a night spent during in Sanctum during the “open mic sessions” is like a night spent learning about life. Another thing that is also really pleasant about the “open mic sessions” is that everyone is very supportive for the person performing, you will rarely here in boos or comments of displeasure, everyone claps and tries to appreciate what the person on stage is doing.
Another really good reason to go to Sanctum is the mini concerts that happen every so often. These concerts usually happen on Saturdays. Imagine being in a very comfortable place listening to great music, without the hype and pretentiousness. Every so often local bands like Imaago and Mojo-fly and local artists like Cynthia Alexander come here to do a quaint relaxed gig. It is really enjoyable to watch these bands play here because really just relax and be one with the music.
Sanctum a place of refuge, a place of comfort for the tired soul. This is one place where you can just let loose and truly “hang-out”, it is one of the friendliest and most unpretentious places in Manila, where people feed off each other creating a vibe that is just something else and that is what makes it great.
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